Mieke Boon

The University of Twente invites applications for a PhD position in Education in AI and Science Literacy, embedded within the DECIDE project—a large-scale, NWO-funded research initiative under the Dutch Research Agenda. DECIDE unites ten Dutch universities, over fifty academic researchers, and thirty societal partners in a collaborative effort to develop transparent, citizen-empowering AI systems, with a focus on AI-supported decision-making that enhances democratic participation and citizen empowerment. The project addresses real-world challenges across healthcare, mobility, public governance, and healthy lifestyles, aiming for tangible societal impact through co-development with stakeholders. As a PhD candidate, you will join a multidisciplinary team and become part of a vibrant inter- and transdisciplinary research community. Your research will focus on the work package dedicated to Education, where you will collaborate with teachers to design, implement, and evaluate an educational program fostering a new type of AI literacy among university students. The instructional approach is Challenge-Based Learning (CBL), engaging multi-disciplinary student teams in research and design projects on societal problems in collaboration with stakeholders. Your educational design research will be supervised by the Instructional Technology (IST) section, while the Philosophy section of the BMS faculty will oversee the design and implementation of the educational program. You will also participate in a Professional Learning Community with teachers and educational specialists from Universities of Applied Sciences, Vocational Education, and the Kohnstamm Institute, exchanging experiences and instructional materials for AI literacy programs in diverse professional settings. Responsibilities include conducting original design-based research leading to a PhD thesis, collaborating with other PhD candidates, postdocs, and societal partners, participating in DECIDE training programs, workshops, and summer schools, and gaining practical experience in large-scale open-source AI software projects such as ASReview. You will engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary activities, including citizen science and co-design initiatives. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Educational Design, Educational Science, or a related field, with demonstrable interest and experience in education. Affinity with AI and AI literacy, interest in fostering science literacy and citizenship using AI tools, strong critical thinking and reflection skills, and the ability to collaborate and communicate in multi-disciplinary teams are essential. Proficiency in English (C1 or C2) is required; Dutch language skills are a plus. The offer includes a full-time, four-year PhD position with a qualification evaluation in the first year, excellent supervision, and a personal development program within the Twente Graduate School. The gross monthly salary starts at €3,059 and rises to €3,881 in the fourth year, with excellent secondary employment conditions including vacation allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, 29 vacation days per year, and full employee status with healthcare and favorable conditions as per the CAO-NU collective labor agreement. The University of Twente provides a green campus, free access to sports facilities, and a family-friendly environment. To apply, submit your application online by March 7, 2026, including a motivation letter and curriculum vitae. Screening is part of the process. For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Mieke Boon or Prof. Dr. Tessa Eysink via email. Join a leading technical university and contribute to positive social impact through innovative educational research in AI and science literacy.